"Emma, darling," Cora sighs heavily and Emma can very clearly feel the woman's frustrations rolling off her tense shoulders seeking her out, ready to scold her. "You have to bond with Rocinante to gain his trust. Your work around the barn has been exquisite, but you can no longer neglect our horse."
"I know," she exhales loudly and squeezes her eyes shut to calm the embarrassment creeping up her neck. "I'm trying, I swear," she pleads with the kind woman, slightly panicking that she might finally fire her ass.
"I know darling, but you have to try harder," Cora states firmly while she gently caresses the white fur that coats the horse's nose. "Give me your hand," she commands with her palm open, waiting patiently for Emma's.
Her hand trembles violently as she reaches out for Cora's open palm and the older woman doesn't waste a moment to latch on and hold her hand securely in hers. Emma's heart is racing faster than this horse ever could while Mrs. Mills is gently guiding her hand toward Rocinante's nose. She stares into those big black eyes and she knows that damn horse is judging her, eyeing her warily in the process. Cora glides her hand down the soft white patch that runs the width of his nose and she tenses immediately.
"Cora, Emma? There you two are. It's rather late, why don't you two come inside to eat dinner," Cora's husband, Henry, suggests generously with his big, brow, puppy dog eyes beating with affection as he peeks inside the barn.
Emma smiles at the balding man, partly because of how caring and gentle he truly is, but also because he just saved her ass from bonding with this wild and unpredictable creature.
"Of course, dear, I was just trying to help Emma connect with Rocinante," Cora explains just as she releases Emma's hand and the blonde's instincts take over, forcing her hand to snap back to her side.
The older man chuckles his deep belly laugh and smiles fondly at her and the way he gazes upon her reminds her so much of her own father. At times this expression causes an ache in her heart and for her to miss her father deeply, but mostly, it comforts her and makes her feel safe while she is away from her dad in a foreign country.
"Come on inside, tomorrow morning we will spend the day getting to know Rocinante," Henry declares as he opens his arm for his wife to crawl inside. He drapes his arm around her shoulders as she wraps her arms around his midsection and maybe it's because they are both rather short, but she finds them so adorable. Mr. Mills nods toward the barn door and she smiles in return, following the lovely couple back to their home. "Emma, why do you fear Rocinante?"
Her nose crinkles subconsciously from the question and without thinking she scuffs her shoe against the old dirt path. "I had a bad experience with a horse one time," she mumbles mostly to herself, because she hates telling this story, it's far too embarrassing.
"Care to elaborate, dear," Cora smirks with her condescending undertone dripping from her words knowing damn well she doesn't care to elaborate.
Emma shoves her hands roughly into the back of her jean's pockets and groans internally. "I was really little, and my dad put me on a pony and the thing was wild and antsy and tried to buck me off."
"Was this at a stable?" Henry curiously inquires without a hint of judgment which makes this conversation even worse.
"No," she murmurs under her breath.
"What was that, dear, we are getting old here and our hearing just isn't the same," Cora muses playfully, inspiring green eyes to roll in annoyance.
"No, no it wasn't at a stable," she huffs and clenches the denim of her pockets as embarrassment ripples through her body. "We were at a festival and they had those ponies that walk around in a circle," she barely whispers under her breath.
Her cheeks instantly flare up with heat, so she snaps her head toward the ground and focuses on the dirt path beneath her feet.
"You mean the baby horses...that are securely locked into position and are only allowed to walk in one direction...around a circle," Henry drawls as he attempts to clear his voice from any laughter.
"Yes," she mumbles and kicks a small rock disrupting her path, a rock she could have easily stepped over. Cora and Henry both chuckle under their breaths, both hopelessly trying to keep their giggles at bay for her sake, but fail miserably. "I was like four, you weren't there," she quickly defends, but this only causes the couple to laugh even harder at her expense. "You guys suck."
"Oh, I'm so sorry, dear," Cora apologizes as she wipes the tears of joy away from beneath her sparkling eyes. She plants both hands on either side of Emma's face and smiles from ear to ear. "Don't you worry, darling, we will help you get over your fear. I promise Rocinante is very gentle, he wouldn't harm a fly." The older woman vows, leaning forward to seal her declaration with a delicate kiss to her forehead.
Only one side of Emma's mouth curls into a half-smile from the sweet moment. Too many emotions fill her heart and her eyes, so she avoids. She hastily pulls away and fakes her best smile before turning on her heels and climbing the front porch steps to the couple's adorable cottage.
XXXXX
Spending two weeks on the Mills' farm and she has already become like a second daughter to this lovely couple. And like any daughter, she has a strict routine of chores that she follows every day in exchange for a roof over her head and mouth-watering home cooked meals. She starts her day by waking up before the sun to tend to the animals, and then she helps Cora with any errands the older woman may have. Usually, she has the nights free to herself to explore the lovely city, but she makes a conscious effort to be back in time to set the table and eat dinner with the Mills.
"I'm going to have to start running in the morning if you insist on feeding me like this," Emma announces while shoving a forkful of warm apple pie smeared with whipped cream into her mouth. She moans around the utensil and smiles in delight as the sweet cinnamon awakens her taste buds. "Are you trying to fatten me up?" She raises one eyebrow skeptically while Cora chuckles around her own fork and shakes her head.
"You are rather skinny, honey, does your father not feed you at home?"
"I'm twenty-four Cora, my dad shouldn't have to feed me anymore."
"Regina could be fifty-years-old and I will still cook for my daughter."
"You spoil our daughter," Henry laughs before sipping his steaming cup of coffee.
"Me?" Cora shrieks in offense. "I am not that one that bought her a horse!"
Cora and Henry both laugh at the accusation and Emma can't help but join in on the fun. This couple is absolutely amazing, and they remind her so much of her parents. Just happy with life. Nothing ever brings them down. They can bicker and fight, but at the end of the day, it doesn't mean anything. That's exactly what she wants with her future spouse.
"Well, if you bought your daughter a horse, I am only forced to assume she's a brat," she quips teasingly while husband and wife laugh at her response, never confirming or denying her assumption. "Great, she sounds pleasant, luckily I'll never meet her," she sarcastically retorts while rolling her eyes playfully.
"Oh my dear, you would get along wonderfully with Regina, but you are right, it's a shame you two will never meet. She may or may not visit for Christmas this year and by then you will be long gone," Cora explains while she finishes her last bite of pie.
Emma pushes her plate out in front of her and stretches out her tired limbs. "I'm extra tired today and if you are going to force me to become friends with a gigantic animal tomorrow, I better get a good night's sleep. I'll do the dishes and then head back to my cabin."
Cora waves her hand in the air, frowning in return. "Don't worry about the dishes tonight, you go rest. You help every night, go relax," she orders as she abruptly stands from her seat and begins clearing the dishes away without another thought.
"Alright if you insist, no taking it back," she teases, even though she jumps right into action and helps Cora clear the table and place the dishes in the sink.
"Sleep well, Emma, I will wake you bright and early," Henry says through a lazy lopsided grin.
"Have a nice night, Mills," she smiles sweetly and slips out the door feeling extra full and content.
A cool evening breeze sweeps across her body, tossing her hair carelessly as the crickets chirp and the stars in the sky twinkle. Her feet sluggishly follow the beaten path of dirt toward the barn and her little hut. It's a small, one room, cabin complete with a bed inside, a mini refrigerator and a bathroom. There's not much too it, but the Mills built this little addition, so Regina could have some privacy when she visits, since their own cabin only contains one bedroom as well.
The addition is cozy, despite the size. The bed is soft with a gray duvet and filled with decorative pillows of baby blue to brighten up the small area, all very modern. There are beautiful paintings hanging on the wall and she knows their daughter must have spruced up this place with her own added touches. Just like she knows that Cora sneaks in once a week to wash everything and keep the area clean for whenever their daughter may arrive.
She kicks off her dirty boots near the door and tumbles carelessly into the comfy bed. She squirms toward the pillows and argues with nobody but herself if she should shower or not. She probably smells worse than Rocinante, but her limbs are filled with lead and her eyelids can no longer fight to stay open and somehow, it's no longer a debate.
XXXXX
The loud crack of thunder and bright flash of lightening wakes her with a jolt. She springs comically from her bed and brushes her wild, knotty hair out of her face. The rain is pelting the roof aggressively like it's trying to stab its way through her tiny temporary home, causing her to flinch in response.
Another sound beats loudly outside, along with a shrieking noise that sends her heart into overdrive.
"Shit," she mutters once her mind wanders to earlier that evening.
Did they lock up the barn before they left for dinner?
She fights against the sheets, that are securely tied around her body and scrambles from the bed, stumbling toward the door and recklessly slipping into her boots. Another loud crack of thunder rips across the sky as a flash lights up her small room as if she just flicked on a switch. She jerks open her door without a moment of hesitation to discover the barn door is indeed wide open.
She groans as the wind picks up and forces the heavy barn door shut once more, banging dangerously through the night. Another gust whips angrily around her and swings the door wide open once more and that's when she hears Rocinante screeching in fear.
Dammit!
She firmly slams her door closed and trudges through the wet and muddy grass toward the barn. In a matter of seconds she is sopping wet, with her shirt clinging to her shivering body, and her hair matted to her face as water droplets pour down her forehead and into her eyes.
She wipes away the aggressive liquid that's so obviously trying to drown her and fights against the wind to close the damn barn door. Rocinante calls out again, provoking her to peek her head inside.
The chestnut colored horse is standing tall on his hind legs while screeching out in sheer panic. She sighs and knows the door banging against the barn is causing him to react in such a way. So, she closes the door and locks it behind her before flipping the switch to turn on the lights, but nothing comes on. She rapidly flicks the light on and off a few more times, like that will somehow charge the electricity, but finally she accepts that the power must be out from the heavy winds and storm.
Emma groans as another flash of lightening seeps through the windows above and lights up the barn and that's the exact moment her heart stops and her feet hazardously shuffle backwards in fear.
An angry, soaking wet, woman is standing directly in front of her, holding a damn shovel as a weapon high in the air. "Who the hell are you?" The stranger screams as Emma's eyes attempt to adjust in the dark.
"Emma. I'm Emma," she stammers out in a rush with her hands protectively flying up to shield her face from any violence.
"Why the hell are you in this barn?" The woman yells even louder and takes an assertive step forward that has Emma backpedaling.
"I-I live here," she winces, "please, put that shovel down," she pleads with the stranger who is ready to knock her out cold and leave her for dead.
"Why the hell would I do that? You do not live here!"
"Y-yes! Yes, I do, for the summer," she holds her hands up in surrender expressing that she won't cause any harm. Even though her fight or flight instincts are alarming in her head and her fist is itching to connect with the jaw hovering over her.
"Why on Earth would my parents allow you to live here for the summer?"
Emma's body instantly relaxes the moment the stranger says the word, parents. Her heart slows down and her shoulders slump in relief, because it's the Mills' daughter, Regina. She won't harm her.
"Your mother said I could work here over the summer and stay in the addition," she calmly explains, but for some reason, Regina's grip is tightening around the shovel, the exact opposite of what Emma had hoped for.
"My mother just allowed some stranger to live in her addition?" Regina interrogates, still not trusting one single world that falls from Emma's pleading mouth.
"Yes," she replies, but her simple word sounds more like a question, tossing all her credibility out the window. Her body tenses again, because she's pretty sure this girl is about to beat her over the head with the horse's pooper-scooper.
"Liar!" She bellows over the pelting rain and rolling thunder just outside of the barn, inspiring Emma's body to jolt once again in fear. "My mother would never bring a stranger into her home."
"I swear, Regina!" Emma implores again, her hands shaking in the space between them as her feet shuffle back.
"You know my name?"
"Of course I do," she breathes out as pure panic attacks her lungs and steals her breath away. "You're Regina, Cora and Henry's daughter. You live in New York and...and...you are going to school to become a doctor," she rambles off before she belts out a loud shriek as the large animal leaps to balance on his two back legs all over again.
Emma's mind is swimming in fear, and she ponders what would be a better way to go out right now? Regina beating her with a shovel or that big, dumb animal attacking her?
"How come my mother never mentioned you?"
"I-I don't know...she didn't say anything just now?"
"Well, I didn't go in to see her yet, it's the middle of the night. I just arrived not too long ago," Regina shyly explains, but that stupid shovel is still up high, ready to attack and Emma cannot stop staring at it.
"You didn't tell her you were coming?"
"Well, no," she mutters appearing awfully ashamed.
"She's going to be so happy to see you," Emma whispers. "Can we maybe talk about putting that shovel down now?" She timidly asks as her eyes drift from the large weapon to Regina's hard gaze.
Regina doesn't say a word, but slowly the shovel falls from the sky and she plants the tip into the ground with rugged force. Emma sighs in relief, but there's some unknown tension building between them as they inspect each other closely.
Green eyes drift from the drenched, jet-black, locks that are still dripping their own water droplets, just passed her shoulders, to the red cami tank top that's clinging to Regina's skin. Her dark denim shorts are sopping wet as well, leaking little buds of rain to cascade down her firm, toned legs and Emma gulps.
She thought Tink was super cute, but she's totally screwed with this one. Regina Mills is jaw-dropping, smoking hot. She belongs on a whole other level of hotness, where every girl on Earth is confused whether they want to date her or be her.
The loud shrieking from Rocinante rips through Emma's inappropriate thoughts though, causing her and Regina to whip around and face the horrified animal.
"I'll calm him down while you grab his reigns," Regina delegates sternly, but Emma's already shaking her head furiously. "Go," she urges sharply, but Emma's feet remain rooted to the ground, unwilling to cooperate.
"Ummm, I'm not really that good with horses," she meekly confesses, generating a deep blush to break across her cheekbones.
"And you work on my parent's farm," Regina deadpans, complete with an exaggerated eye roll while she huffs and takes off toward her horse in a rush.
"I'm working on it. I swear," she quickly defends, but it comes off more like a whiny toddler. "Your dad is going to wake me in the morning and help me 'bond' with Rocinante," she explains while using air quotes to get the woman back for the rude eye roll.
"Come on, you two are going to bond right now," the brunette firmly demands as she hops up onto the gate keeping Rocinante in his restricted area. "Rocinante is my horse and you are going to respect him if you plan on continuing to work here."
"He's your horse?" She squawks, lazily dragging her feet closer. "Your parents said they bought you a horse, but I didn't know it was him," she nods her head in the direction of the large animal who is very visibly trembling in fear.
Regina hums softly in response, but her full attention is on her horse. She begins shushing and cooing sweet words to calm that frantic beast while Emma cautiously approaches, completely understanding that this woman will have her fired if she doesn't comply.
"Take his reigns and hold him firmly into place," Regina softly whispers as her hand reaches forward to connect with the white patch Cora made her touch earlier. "Hi Rocinante, did you miss me, buddy?" She coos, her dainty fingertips dipping into the bristled fur and gliding further up his nose in the most tender manner.
The horse instantly calms down and nudges his nose closer for more of Regina's comforting touch. Emma's lips are slowly curling into a smile from the intimate moment between owner and pet. This woman is absolutely stunning in an obvious way, but because she is so gentle and caring with this large beast, well, it makes her even more desirable.
Emma finds herself leaning forward and grabbing hold of the reigns like she was instructed to do. Out of the corner of her eye, she notices how Regina observes her action and flashes a warm smile that somehow fills Emma's heart and spreads deliciously throughout her blood.
She swallows, even though her mouth is drying up rather quickly and casts her eyes to the ground below. She proceeds to listen as Regina whispers more sweet nothings toward the horse to completely calm him down. Tentatively, she peeks through her thick eyelashes and watches as Regina rests her head against the wild animal. The woman's thick lips pucker out to place a gentle kiss to his nose before she hops down from the fence.
"Your turn."
Emma's head snaps up so fast as her eyes blow wide and lock onto Regina's in sheer panic. "What? Why? He's fine. You don't need me-"
"Ssshhhh...Emma...was it?"
"Yes, Emma Swan," she reintroduces herself as her grip automatically tightens around the reigns.
"Just come here and relax. He can sense you are agitated."
Regina softly takes her hand and pries it away from the leather ropes. She ties the reigns with practiced ease before gently taking her hand once again. She slowly peels her fingers open and holds her hand up, her palm facing her greatest fear.
Unknowingly, Emma's hand begins to shake with all that anxious energy charging through her bloodstream, persuading Regina's thumb to gently caress the soft skin between Emma's thumb and index finger to help soothe her fears.
"Relax," Regina whispers hotly into Emma's ear, her warm breath coating the shell and sending glorious shivers of pleasure to run wildly down her spine, but she's too distracted by the animal to really enjoy the moment.
Rocinante cautiously stretches forward and brushes his nose against the palm of her hand. Her muscles tense immediately, but Regina is right there again, whispering words of encouragement into her ear while her thumb strokes the back of her hand. Emma's completely lost in the feel of this stranger's body pressing up against her back to even notice the animal nudging against her and boy how the tables have turned in a matter of seconds.
"See," Regina's warm breath connects with the shell of her ear again, provoking the pit of Emma's stomach to clench. "He likes you," she sweetly says before releasing her hand.
And much to Emma's surprise, she doesn't retract her hand like she did with Cora earlier that day. She carefully glides her hand further up his nose and then back down again, instructing herself to remember to keep breathing.
"I guess you're not so bad," she whispers as the horse huffs out his opinion in response. She chuckles softly and pets him a few more times before turning around to face Regina with a sheepish grin plastered across her face.
Their eyes lock, but Emma can still see that smug smirk dancing across those sexy full lips. Her heart pounds a little harder against her chest and she silently prays that the sound of the storm is covering up her erratic heart. Neither one of them is saying one damn word, which is generating this thick wall of tension to build between them.
Finally, Regina breaks through the deafening silence. "I suppose you can keep your job, Miss Swan," she taunts, but each word is laced with playful banter and Emma's body is slowly relaxing once again.
"Thanks, I suppose I needed an expert to teach me the ropes."
"You can peel your lips from my ass now," Regina quips inspiring Emma to bark out a carefree laugh. The woman smirks in triumph, but chuckles through her nose, not fully committing to opening up just yet around Emma. "I suppose we can get some sleep now. I do believe you have prior arrangements in the morning with Rocinante."
Emma peeks over her shoulder at the horse and smiles, before focusing back on Regina. "I suppose I do." Regina nods along as a thought suddenly occurs to Emma. "Hey, um, I have your bed. What uh...what are we going to do about that?"
"If you are scared of the thunderstorm, just say so," Regina snarks and even though Emma knows she's teasing, the woman's face is dead serious.
"I am not," she scoffs and rolls her eyes at the idea. "You are more than welcome to sleep in the barn if you need proof."
"You can sleep in the barn, that addition is my place," Regina quips without a moment of hesitation and strolls effortlessly toward the door.
"You can't be serious," she quickly interjects, hopelessly chasing after her.
Regina abruptly spins around, her face stern and cold and just like that Emma's heart plummets. They lock eyes once more, both challenging one another to say one word. Finally, Regina's face cracks into a smile and she laughs lightly.
"I'm just teasing Emma, we can share the bed," she offers, spinning around on her tiptoes before opening the barn door.
Emma sighs in relief that she doesn't have to slum it with a horse tonight and helps Regina lock up the barn. The rain soaks her curly locks all over again, that were starting to dry within the confines of the barn. So, her and Regina run as fast as they can toward the addition and tumble inside, slamming the door behind them.
Cold water trickles down her face, but she ignores the feeling as her eyes land upon the flawless face before her. Thick water droplets cling to Regina's long black eyelashes as she blinks, attempting to sweep them away and suddenly Emma forgets how to breathe. Regina casually curls her fingers around her hair and wrings out the excess water, unaware of Emma's lingering gaze because she's flabbergasted by Regina's beauty.
"Emma, I left my suitcase in the barn, do you have extra clothes?"
Emma snaps her mouth shut and nods enthusiastically as her lust grows rapidly. She scurries to the small dresser next to the bed and pulls out a t-shirt for each of them. She offers the article of clothing just as Regina slowly drags her own sopping wet tank top over her head.
"Just a shirt," Regina flatly questions, standing shamelessly in her bra and short jeans.
Emma swallows hard and blinks to refocus her mind. "Sorry I don't have any silk pajamas, your majesty," she teases and tosses the shirt directly in her new roommate's face.
Regina snatches the item and places the collar between her teeth to form a curtain while she unclasps her bra. Emma quickly spins around allowing Regina privacy and for her to strip her own clothes away.
She honestly has no clue if Regina is discreetly watching her twitchy fingers toss her shirt to the floor or as they fumble to unclasp her bra, but she sure as hell feels like she's being observed. She's all too aware of the cold air kissing her damp skin, creating the little bumps to pop across her flesh. She feels exposed as her nipples stand to attention and she hastily shrugs into the dry shirt. She swears she feels a heavy gaze upon her back, but she continues to slip her fingers beneath her thong and drag the lacy material down her wet skin as if nobody else is in the room.
Emma ignores the woman behind her as she collects the drenched clothing off the ground, Regina's included. She scampers toward the bathroom and hangs their clothes over the bathtub to dry overnight. When she returns to the only room, Regina is securely hidden beneath the sheets, hiding away her body. The woman's eyes are closed already, but Emma knows she isn't asleep just yet.
With heavy feet and anxious toes, she takes the only step toward the bed and carefully lifts the comforter. She slips into the bed and makes sure that she leaves a very distinct distance between them.
"So..." she drags out the word for as long as humanly possible while her fingers strum against the mattress.
"So," Regina continues, mimicking her tone and coaxing her to continue.
"How long are you staying for?"
"One week," she quickly informs her, but doesn't divulge in any more information.
"So, uh...what are we gonna do about the sleeping arrangements?" She nervously inquires as her fingers find a loose string to toy anxiously with.
Regina turns her body to offer her attention and tucks her hands between her cheek and pillow. She's utterly adorable and Emma has to fight with herself not to stare, so she finds purpose with the ceiling above.
"Well, I'll be happy to build you a bed out of hay tomorrow," Regina casually offers without skipping a beat.
This woman has a smart tongue, is absolutely infuriating, drop dead gorgeous and Emma thinks she's probably already in love. She shakes her head at the stupidity and turns to face the smirking woman beside her.
"I can ask your parents if they wouldn't mind if I slept on their couch for the week. That way you can have this place to yourself during your vacation," she suggests while her eyes land upon the enticing warm smile, dazzling before her.
"We will figure it out tomorrow."
Regina slowly turns to lay upon her other side and Emma hates how her chest constricts painfully tight, already missing that gentle smile in the night.
"Good night," she chokes out, sounding like a teenage boy in the middle of puberty.
"Good night Emma," Regina softly whispers.